Decision summaries
What each Supreme Court decision decided, in a sentence or two. Open one and use its Summary tab for the facts, issue and ruling in plain language or lawyer mode. These are study aids, not legal advice. Check the decision itself before you rely on it.
- G.R. 233127Jul 2023Integrated Credit and Corporate Services, Co. v. Novelita Labrador and Philippians Academy of Parañaque CityA buyer at a foreclosure auction who has consolidated ownership is entitled to a writ of possession, and a beneficiary of a trust created by the mortgagor does not count as a third party who can block it.
- G.R. 244202Jul 2023Mannasoft Technology Corporation v. Commissioner of Internal RevenueTax assessment notices handed to someone who is not the taxpayer's authorized representative, like a reliever security guard, are void, and the taxpayer's appeal to the tax court was on time.
- G.R. 209479Jul 2023Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap), Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators (Acto), Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Altodap), Pangkalahatang Sangguniang Manila and Suburbs Drivers Association, Inc. (Pasang-Masda), Metro Manila Bus Operators Association (Mmboa), Pagkakaisa Ng Mga Samahan Ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston), Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Alliance, Inc. (Mjoda), Integrated Metro Bus Operators Association (Imboa), Northeast Manila Bus Operators Group (Nembog), National Trans-Workers Union (Ntu), and Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (Pboap) v. Governments of Manila City, Quezon City, Valenzuela City, Caloocan City, San Juan, Navotas, Las Piñas City, Taguig, Pasay City, Parañaque City, Muntinlupa City, Mandaluyong City, Makati City, Pasig City, Pateros, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (Mmda), Land Transportation Office (Lto) and the Department of Transportation and Communications (Dotc)In Metro Manila, only the MMDA, and not the city governments on their own, may issue traffic tickets and confiscate drivers' licenses, so the city ordinances that let them do so were struck down.
- G.R. 254001Jul 2023Bayyo Association, Inc. and Anselmo D. Perweg, in His Capacity as President of the Association v. Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, Secretary Carlos S. Dominguez, Secretary Wendel Eliot Avisado, and Atty. Martin B. DelgraThe Supreme Court refused to rule on the jeepney modernization order because the petitioners did not show that they had the right to sue and went straight to the Supreme Court on questions that depend on facts.
- G.R. 260116Jul 2023Mayor Agnes Villanueva, Now Incumbent Member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Misamis Occidental v. Honorable Commission on Elections, En Banc, and the Law Department of the COMELEC, ManilaThe Comelec took eleven years to decide whether to charge a mayor with an election offense, and that unexplained delay violated her right to a speedy disposition of her case, so the case was dismissed.
- G.R. 211089Jul 2023Spouses Dr. John O. Maliga and Annielyn dela Cruz Maliga v. Spouses Abrahim N. Tingao and Bai Shor Tingao Spouses Dr. John O. Maliga and Annielyn dela Cruz Maliga Vs. Dimasurang Unte, JrA Shari'a District Court can hear a money dispute between Muslims, including a loan with interest, even if the Muslim Code has no specific rule on the subject.
- G.R. 262193Jul 2023Development Bank of the Philippines v. Commission on AuditThe Supreme Court upheld the disallowance of DBP's inflated leave pay, but because the Commission on Audit took 11 years to decide, no one has to pay it back.
- G.R. 245894Jul 2023Raquel C. Melloria, Municipal Accountant, Eduarda a. Casador, Municipal Treasurer, Municipality of Laak, Province of Compostela Valley v. Director Flerida a. Jimenez, in Her Capacity as Head, Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Unit, Office of the Chairperson, and Commission on AuditOfficials who only certify that funds are available, as a routine task, can be excused from returning disallowed government money if they acted in good faith.
- G.R. 209449Jul 2023Republic of the Philippines v. National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Register of Deeds — Baguio City, Land Registration Authority, Heirs of Lauro Carantes, Dimson Manila, Inc., Joan L. Gorio, and Certain Jane Does and John DoesThe Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act does not apply to Baguio City, so no ancestral land title under that law can be issued there, but indigenous claimants may still try to prove ownership by possession since time immemorial.
- G.R. 233930Jul 2023Anna May v. Baquirin, Mary Jane N. Real, Maria Lulu G. Reyes, Joan Dymphna G. Saniel, and Evalyn G. Ursua Vs. Ronald M. dela Rosa, in His Capacity as Director-General of the Philippine National Police, Jose Luis Martin C. Gascon, in His Capacity as Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, and Vitaliano Aguirre II, in His Capacity as the Secretary of the Department of JusticeThe Supreme Court will not use a petition for mandamus to order officials to investigate killings in the drug war when the petitioners have no standing, skipped lower courts, and showed no concrete proof of neglect.
- A.C. 13675Jul 2023(Formerly Cbd 19-6024) Mary Rose E. Dizon, Randolph Stephen G. Pleyto, and Jonash Belgrade C. Tabanda v. Maila Leilani Trinidad-RadocA lawyer who invents court cases, fakes a P5 million court award, and pockets her clients' money should be disbarred.
- G.R. 222810Jul 2023Former Municipal Mayor Clarito a. Poblete, Municipal Budget Officer Ma. Dolores Jeaneth Bawalan, and Municipal Accountant Nephtali v. Salazar Vs. Commission on AuditLocal officials who pay old projects from a later year's budget can be held to account for the disallowed amounts, and an appeal to the Commission on Audit that is not perfected on time, including payment of the filing fee, becomes final.
- G.R. 229471Jul 2023Pacific Cement Company v. Oil and Natural Gas CommissionA court decision made while a company is under rehabilitation is not automatically void if the court was never told about the rehabilitation, but enforcement of the money claim stays suspended.
- A.M. 23-05-05-SCJul 2023Request of the Public Attorney'S Office to Delete Section 22, Canon III of the Proposed Code of Professional Responsibility and AccountabilityThe Supreme Court refused to delete the rule that a conflict of interest of a Public Attorney's Office lawyer is imputed only to that lawyer and the direct supervisor, so the rest of the office can still represent the other side.
- G.R. 257497Jul 2023People of the Philippines v. XxxRemoving one's clothes and bending a girl over is not attempted rape unless the man has started to push his penis into her, so the lesser crime of lascivious conduct was proven, while the earlier rape at knifepoint was proven fully.
- G.R. 258925Jul 2023People of the Philippines v. Mark John Maantos y Velasco @ "John Skull," Ryan Aringgo y Legaria (Deceased), Jorros Bini y Hipolan, Alma CAñete y Ponsica (at Large), April John Taburada y Subaria (at Large), Cedric Miro y Sarabia (at Large) Mark John Maantos y Velasco @ "John" Skull" and Jorros Bini y HipolanA person cannot be convicted of murder on an eyewitness identification made days later from a suggestive photo lineup, even when the accused is a notorious gang leader.
- G.R. 202417Jul 2023Hon. Corazon J. Soliman, in Her Capacity as Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development v. Carlos T. Santos the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club, Inc. Vs. Carlos T. Santos, JrPrivate golf and country clubs must give senior citizens the 20% discount on services they sell, like locker rentals and use of golf facilities, but not on membership dues.
- G.R. 255632Jul 2023Danica L. Medina v. People of the PhilippinesAn employee who collects money for her employer was acquitted because the prosecution proved neither that she held the money as a trustee nor that she took it.
- G.R. 245926Jul 2023People of the Philippines v. XxxA man was convicted of simple rape, not qualified rape, because the charge sheet said the girl was his first cousin or a relative within the third degree, and a first cousin is a fourth-degree relative.
- G.R. 222068Jul 2023Arthur a. Candelario v. Marlene E. Candelario and the Office of the Solicitor GeneralA marriage celebrated before the Family Code took effect can still be declared void for psychological incapacity, but the spouse asking for it must prove the incapacity with clear and convincing evidence.